What Bradford Council and MP Philip Davies want from Autumn Statement

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is expected to unveil tax cuts, measures to boost business investment and a tougher approach to welfare in his autumn statement on Wednesday.

Mr Hunt has insisted he will be “responsible with the nation’s finances”, but his statement on Wednesday will “focus on how we boost business investment and get people back into work”.

It comes after Shipley MP Philip Davies held a meeting with the Chancellor following his visit to a business in West Yorkshire. 

Shipley MP Philip Davies held a meeting with the chancellor (Image: Via Philip Davies MP)

The Conservative politician would like to see the tax thresholds raised, meaning fewer people would be caught up paying the highest rate of tax, as well as a corporation tax cut and increased thresholds for inheritance tax. 

Following the meeting, Mr Davies said: “I will always be in favour of lowering taxes and allowing people to keep more of their own money.

"We have the highest burden of taxation in living memory and it cannot continue. I made it clear to Jeremy we should be concentrating on cutting government spending and waste, rather than increasing taxes.”

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, leader of Bradford Council, has urged the Chancellor to create vital funding for children’s services and carry out “radical reset” reforms set out in an independent review.

An independent review of children’s social care, carried out by former schoolteacher Josh Macalister and commissioned by the government, found that children’s services need an additional £2.6bn of new spending and changes at a national level. 

The Macalister review also made the recommendation to the government that councils should be empowered to “take back control” of the children’s care market.

The Competition and Markets Authority said that the UK has “sleepwalked” into a dysfunctional market for children’s social care - one that forces councils to pay excessive fees for services amid profiteering by private providers. 

Cllr Hinchcliffe said: “Our key ask of the Chancellor is to address the funding crisis in children’s social care and to deliver the reforms that the independent experts are calling for. The government’s own independent review said the government needs to provide an additional £2 billion for children’s services and must overhaul a flawed system.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt (Image: PA)

“Councils of all political colours are united with the independent experts and regulators in calling for government to address the national funding crisis for children’s services.

"There are rising numbers of children needing care who deserve the best possible services. There is however excessive profiteering by private providers of children’s care placements at the same time as government funding has been reducing.”

Cllr Hinchcliffe’s voice adds to cries from the Local Government Association (LGA) and other councils to tackle the crisis of rising numbers of children in care.

The LGA claims councils in England face a funding gap of £4 billion over the next two years. 

It called on the Chancellor to provide immediate funding so councils can deliver the 2023/24 budgets set this year and have sufficient resources to set balanced budgets without making drastic cuts next year. 

Bradford Council said its reserves are now at an unprecedented low level.

“This is clearly not a sustainable picture and I am joining with the LGA in calling on the Chancellor to act,” the leader said. 

Cllr Hinchcliffe set out a six point plan to the Chancellor: Deliver the long-promised fairer funding for councils; address the national crisis in social care; provide sufficient resources for special educational needs and disabilities and transport provision; support the council’s ambitions to Level Up the Bradford district; work with the council to deliver public sector reform for better value services; and deliver deeper devolution for West Yorkshire.

The Chancellor's Autumn Statement

Shipley MP Philip Davies with the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt (Image: Via Philip Davies)

Mr Hunt will deliver his Autumn Statement to Parliament on Wednesday.

Treasury Chief Secretary Laura Trott has spoken about plans to get people off welfare and into jobs. 

She said it is the “duty” of those who can work to do so.

The plans could see those with mental health or mobility problems told to search for work which is possible to do from home.

According to The Times, people could see their benefits reduced by £4,680 a year from 2025 as part of a significant tightening of welfare rules.

Ms Trott told Sky News: “I think that if you can work, as a principle you should work, and that is what the Government believes. That’s been the thrust of all of our policies.

“Of course, there should be support for people to help them into work or to help them with issues that they’re facing, but ultimately there is a duty on citizens."